Imagine Wild

Well, well, well.

Right after I thought of writing this short entry, I went and did myself a little googling on the topic.

Looks like it's true.
A sleepy brain thinks more creatively.

It seems when you get sleepy, you get more insightful. Your mind stops minding you thinking nonsense.

I don't quite mind this state I'm in now. It's rather enjoyable. Happiness comes easily. Just by closing my eyes I derive much comfort and feel so relaxed. Satisfying a sleepy me by shutting my lids actually feels pleasurable. Got no place for work stress in this brain fog.

Writing seems easy too I don't feel like I'm not getting the usual writers' block as I begin the entry. I'm not saying the quality of writing is better - perhaps I'll judge my own literature on another day.

They say getting tipsy brings on the same effect. It's no wonder people enjoy drinking when they are bogged with problems. Those guys are geniuses!

Just as I'm writing this I've got another 2 product ideas edging their way into my brain. Nice. I'm going to get them sketched and documented down into my sketch book. (It's a book that's actually named 'Sketch'!)

Well if the book insists, I shall obey...

<3

Polly the Terrarium Terror

Pushy and I are on another terrarium mission for Christmas. This time we're working on a gift project for a grown-up and therefore do glass encased ones and also experiment with different plant varieties.

My first idea was to work on an orchid terrarium. But it's a more difficult plant to care for than the last ones we had and I was very afraid it would wilt away, so I suggested to get a backup plant. Pushy saw that the African Violet came in a lovely shade of white with blue edges and therefore we made that our backup plant.

At home, I began repotting the orchid and saw that I made a grave mistake. In selecting our orchid we chose a vanda with the smallest flowers. However I made no mental note of the height of the spikes and ended up with an orchid taller than it's container. Amateur! 

I ended up having to pick out the shorter spikes and split the plant into 2 categories - shorter and taller. Taller ones went back into its original pot, shorter ones were shoved into a cleaned out mineral water base which I cut out, together with some dried spagheum moss and charcoal bits.

The entire bottle base with the shorter spikes were still too tall for its intended container, so I went to Youtube and looked up how to trim orchid stems. Finally I ended up with an orchid plant with no flowering spikes, only leaves. It doesn't seem like an exciting Christmas gift, so I think Pushy will be keeping it for his own and while waiting for the new flowering spikes to grow out.

Having disappointed myself with a poorly thought out orchid terrarium, it took me another couple of days to gather courage and make a second attempt with the backup plant - our sweet little African violet.

I went home, whipped out the paraphernalia and began filling out the second jar with charcoal, moss and coloured beads.I eased out the African violet from it's original pot and tried to stuff the soil and roots to for the next layer. Height-wise the plant was appropriate for the new jar, but lo and behold, the width was way too much. Another amateur mistake. 

Very unfortunately, the jar was tall and it was a chore to extract the plant out to  downsize it. Numerous of the its delicate leaves broke in halves and some in entirety. After peeling away all the broken leaves, I got myself a nice size of the plant to fit into the jar. Finally.. something worked!

Now the African violet fits snugly in the jar, but it looks dirty with bits of soil stuck to the top and bottom side of its leaves. I'm still working out a safe way to clean away the soil without breaking more leaves. 

Poor plants. I feel so apologetic to them. Now I will have to monitor their colour and poise to make sure they recover from my unintended mutilation. 

No, my thumbs are not green and I suck at gardening!

Can they survive the Terrarium Terror?

♥

Fabric Fanatic

Oh dear. I have an incurable insane obsession with silk fabric.

<3

A fulfilling weekend

A fulfilling weekend.
Worked through cough and cold. 
Persistence paid off. 
New creations, affirmations.
Rested, recovered.
It was fun, fun, fun. =)

Loving Life.
♥

Ang Bao Box Adventures

I've been spending some of my spare time on crafting an all new ang bao box for one of my besties who's getting hitched. I've done another one earlier this year for Hooch and feel its kinda addictive for me. It's really an exciting thing to participate in the wedding prep work for someone close to you.

These are the 2 designs I've completed in the year. 

This one lights up from its tiny windows!

Because Love grows..

Are they any good? Would you buy them? Please Poll for Polly!

Would you pay real money for my ang bao boxes?

In the meantime.. I'm wishing there are more sweethearts within my social circle who can quickly tie the knot, so I can have more projects to practise on. Alas, none others.. yet!

♥

Me Need Workstation. Need Bad!

I am, rather frequently, an impulsive animal. I mentioned previously I have a multitude of hobbies. Well I am the Jane-of-All-Trades and Mistress-of-None. I still go back to each one of them from time to time and each of my hobbies have begun vying for space to be present at my makeshift work table so I can pick them up and continue working on them from where I last took off. 

De-clutter, de-clutter, de-cluttttter!

Scene from my make shift work table from my last major project. It's an old mahjong table! Huat ah..

I am wistfully wishing for a new work table. Wouldn't mind this baby from Ikea.

Love the idea that this work station can be closed up to keep out the dust. For craft work however, this table may be a little narrow so I'm still browsing. Still it doesn't resolve the issue of my cluttered-ness. I wonder if there really is a cure?

In the meantime, the mahjong table and my bedroom floor are my best resources. Can you tell I'm bravely defying the thought of procrastinating creative work through the excuse of having no proper work table?

Here's an example of how I am scanning Poppadum's craft work for administrative purposes. He's recently into lettering and borders. Isn't it neat?

♥

Rouse House

Yeah so today was a much cheerier day.
Indeed I was much more focused and constructive and felt that I truly value-added.
What a weirdo (that's me!)!

On other news - 

To the boys and girls out there who do enjoy a read (something perhaps a little more flavourful than this brog entry), there's a new up and rising short story portal Rousing Reads which was set up by Alice Leong to rally the work of aspiring novelists from across Asia. The site's pretty neat because all readers are welcome to share any of their own fabrications and get access to a wide pool of reader traffic.

I'm now inspired to write, but my bucket list is awfully long (after my non-boring ang bao box.. which comes before my bodice sewing project.. which comes before my skirt sewing project.. which all comes after my mini spring-clean assignment.. which needs to come before my roof renovation arrangement). So much to do, so little time!

Life is.. Le Sigh.

♥

The Boring Ang Bao Box

Goodness gracious me, my brog entries are so boring!

And so are the DIY ang bao box ideas we have online!

These are, of course, really irrelevant topics. But we can still draw some far-flung association on the two topics - they are both boring really boring subjects and no one cares!

Just because its DIY doesn't mean its Special. The world could do with one or two less ang bao boxes bearing resemblance to tiered wedding cakes. God, they are boring!

With designs on the internet being so dry...... it's making me thirsty.

But not like I can help it, I'm outta fresh ideas too! 

Oh the Uninspiration. Oh what's a Poser to do...?

♥

My Goodness I am Tired.

Cooked and washed and cooked and washed today. As if my life was like a microwave and dish washer combined. (Now that's quite a brilliant idea, people should already be manufacturing such things)

I think I did a kick-ass sandwich today. It was made for Gooey-Gecko. I even served it with an iced matcha latte to go with it, just right for this hot Sg weather. "Why so nice of me?" you ask. Or more accurately "Why so nice of you?".

Well, doesn't it look appetizing? Or wut?

Because I can. And because I wanted to show him my skills in the culinary realm has grown leaps and bounds (All thanks to Food Network channel and all those Masterchef episodes I studied with Pushy). I passed with flying colours. And then let him spread the word to Poppadum and Nagalot. Which I doubt will happen... but.

But anyway I think he enjoyed the concoction very much. It was an awesome sandwich with the simplest ingredients but all fresh. Fresh is good. Thinking about the 'wich I made is stirring a growl in my tummy. Because I'm greed. Gosh I wish I tasted it.

I mean.. just look at it!

You may ask "If you didn't taste it, how did you know it was good?" or.. you may not care two hoots about what I think you wanted to ask. That doesn't matter. What mattered was that Gooey-Gecko was asking me about the ingredients of the 'wich after swallowing every morsel of it. GG said he has plans to introduce my toasted 'wich into his business plans and make moolahs from it.

That, my friends, is a huge compliment, if you haven't yet noticed. And so I am very pleased and went on to do dinner for Nagalot several hours after. Nagalot didn't say much while lapping the meal I made for her, but I knew she pretty much enjoyed it. Because if she didn't she would have nagged-a-lot.

Confidence boosted by another compliment (albeit silent one), I used up the leftover ingredients and prepared tomorrow's breakfast for Pushy and myself. A regret I can't make it fresh in the morning - morning hours are just too tight - but I've done the half-cook trick so tomorrow's heating up of breakfast should not overcook it too much. 

Will let you in on how it goes....
Until then, bonne nuit! Because.. my goodness, am I tired out or wut!

♥

Alterations

These days I've been unemployed and lazy. Now with my next employment due to begin in less than a week, I've come under attack by nagging pangs of guilt.

Procrastination, they say, causes the demise of kings. And since my blood isn't blue my demise will come quicker.

I've been tugged or dragged along by my guilt this week to make little baby steps improvements.

I've learnt to alter and mend a pair of jeans and I've transformed a playsuit into a top. Supportive Poppadom also put in my hands the fate of 2 pairs of his trousers which I fixed up for him. All these results at the expense of 5 broken machine needles and 16 hours' worth of headache. I think the more I sew the more precise and consistent my stitches are - so it's all worth it.

Today I also successfully woke early to go for a run. This to attempt reset my bio-clock so I don't arrive on my first day with the resemblance of a zombie.

All in all je pretty proud of je self. Keep up keep up!

<3

Horriday Plans

IT's TOugh PLanninG for a HoRRiday! *shouts out loud*


I'm exhausted. Stupid air tickets not available. Coaches don't go where I want to go. Available air tickets cost a bomb. Now I remember why I hate to plan for horriday. Continue to check tomorrow.. In the meantime I wan to Zz and shoo away the grumps.


Oh by the way. Here's my first handmade skirt!


With flash

No flash

No belt

Side view

Back

I feel sooo accomplished. Oh I am a happy lark!


xoxo


♥

Dear Diary

Dear Diary. 
I have neglected you. But who cares, right? I am here only for literature-therapy. So you all folks don't be expecting too much from me! (Just saying)


As always, I feel lots of things had happened in my life. Lots of things I should have written about here. I guess I have too many other distractions over the past weeks.


Very happy for Pushy because he passed his examinations in the manner of flying-colours. This means he's not going to need to worry about being booted out from his course of study until several years later. Cheers, Pushy!


Also happy for myself because I seemed to have shed some kilos since the last time I brogged. (Brag + blog = brog) This weight loss is not anything to be proud of though.. It is a result of my over-work. 


Yes I am feeling the pressure. Feeling the heat. Over the last several weeks I experienced multiple instances where I had to make conscious effort to think positive and remain focused. I am rather impressed with my steel-like endurance that took me through lengthened periods of OT. Gurl power! Rawr.


Positive I may have been, but right now I feel the stamina wearing off. This is causing my Monday blues.
I'm just glad that I will be bidding this awful workload goodbye, amongst other awful factors. I will just need to make sure I do a neat little handover, and then I will say 'toodles'!


No one said it was easy. I didn't expect it to be.


On other news, I have completed my first hand-made apparel! It's a work skirt. I must remember to take a picture of it when I wear it to work. No. 2 is on the way - it's a Minnie Mouse inspired top! As long as I don't pair it off with a huge bow on my head, I don't think people will laugh at me when I wear it!


Here's a picture of my W-I-P. Can't wait to finish it. I was actually working at top speed during my last lesson. And I got muscle ache the next day.

Brogging maketh me hungrieth. I feel like a steamboat right now..

♥

Weekend!

Wot a pleasant weekend!


Happy Happy Happy.
I did lots of things that make me happy!


Saturday was an early day, arrived at 9.15am at office to meet my beloved teammies. We and some other office mates were hosts to about 40 kids from various centres of the Dyslexia Association. The committee coordinating this event arrived way earlier than us (poor guys & gals) to do some prep arrangements.


The children, first shy and eventually screaming at the top of their lungs, were there to learn several arts & crafts. 


There was puppy toy making..
(Picha to follow)


Mini-doh making..

(Pic from Mdm C's cam)

Badge making..

(I made this!)

Mobile phone accessory making..
(Picha to follow)


It was really interesting teaching stuff to these little bundles of energy.. but it didn't take me long to realise they are real energy sappers - zap zap - \(X_X)/


It took me a sugar loaded coffee and a hearty meal to recover from the day's events so I could continue with the remaining agenda for the day, to do a little birthday gift shopping.


What a tiring day! But it was fun. I wonder if the kids enjoyed themselves? 


♥

Bobbin' It

I now know how bad I am at using the sewing machine.

I spent my entire night playing with the bobbin!! 

I did only one dart!!

Dreadful.. Dreadful.. Inconspicuous but utterly irritating machine part! GRR.

It's time for someone to reinvent the bobbin compartment.

REVOLUTION!

It will save us multiple frown lines on the faces of billions...

♥

Wednesday Nights

Missed a drinking session after work today, a small pity because I appreciate there's some charity auction going on over drinks which I would have been delighted to watch. But it's alright for me I'm not keen on alcohol. There are, however, some people who believe that if you don't drink, you don't 'go out' enough.


Not highly interested today to be labouring the point on how loosely correlated these two issues are. Instead I'm going to be talking about how the 'miss' turned out to be a 'hit' for me.


So Wednesday nights I'm attending dress making (DM) lessons. Been doing this for 4 weeks now (excluded 2 sessions I missed due to OT work) and every lesson I go to class being a happy student.


Today's lesson was a big milestone for me. I learnt how to transfer my pattern from brown paper to real fabric, how to secure the pattern to the fabric and cut the fabric properly. I learnt there is a machine to use that's specifically for stitching the holds on frayed ends. I also learnt how to stitch up darts.


That's a lot of MEANINGFUL time spent - in place of 'going out' to absorb alcohol and cigarette smoke. I actually prefer learning to make tangible stuff that I can wear. Hope I can be good enough to make presents for my beloved lovely friends..

I hope I don't miss lessons again. My DM peers have advanced way beyond what I'm doing now.


You want me to skip another lesson? 
MAKE ME.


xoxo


♥

Baby Steps..

Writing this while I watch the Dancing Merengue Dog, vid recommended by Pushy. He is so darn good. And he really enjoys his job it's inspiring. I was referring to the Dog.


Also happening right now is my tum tum rum rum making noises. But I'm conciously fighting to NOT GIVE IN because I WILL HAVE NO SUPPER.


***********


Today marks a significant baby step towards a lofty dream. 
I did my first dress pattern based on my own measurements. This with the help of a certain Mdm Lim who helped me take proper measurements. With the power of her notes and secret formulae in MY HANDS, I am bound to succeed!


It's exciting to see the work-in-progress creations of my classmates. In several weeks to come I'd be doing stuff they are doing now! How cool!


Some homework to do though. I have more patterns to sketch, and I have to get supplies from Chinatown. Such joyful homework, I'd do with glee!

♥

Kard Kraft Killed Kooty

Today I realise it's TERRIBLY hard to make pop-out cards. The paper you select, the blade you use and the angle of fold are also TERRIBLY important.


And I'm TERRIBLE at the game.


After spending a back-breaking 3.5h with the result being incomplete, I reflect on myself and wonder if I should have given up at the point when the thread used in the design was tangled into a mess, or at the other point when I untangled the mess and it got tangled the very next moment.


But if I had given up then I'd havelost rescpet for myself! 
If only I didn't have to wake up so early tomorrow, the world will be a better place.


Okay so the design is in, the materials I have. Only need to write the message and add it to the layout tomorrow. Take 5 and sleep first because I'm starving and want to sleep it off. 


No supper no supper!


Drats, I'm going to be darn sleepy for tomorrow's dress making lesson!


XOXO

♥

Watermelon for u?

This post is dedicated to my 2 very dedicated lovelies who are very dedicated to their responsibilities on hand. 


Pushy & Zaza Hwaiting! 
Try your best at what you do, that makes me proud of you!


v(o_0)V


***************
On a side note, watermelons are in harvest, care to share? I have 10 slices to go around.

That's five.

♥

What's up pussycat?

So I made this simple vid and added a cute song to it. I like the randomness of filming Tiger Jones, my new next door neighbour when he comes over to visit. He's not overly friendly - which I believe is a good thing - and keeps a low profile - until the Mousey Ball shows itself in the form of a ball clasped within the fists of GooeyGecko. 

I was never a fan of Mousey Ball because it makes a racket when it drops to the ground. Maybe the noise, texture and colour are the key features making Tiger fall head over heels in love with it. In the last scene Tiger almost took Mousey Ball home. Thankfully not otherwise an embarrassing situation is sure to unfold. Tiger's mom and dad had never knew we let him play with Mousey Ball. It is a little strange for them to find Mousey Ball in their home one day to discover that Mousey Ball belonged to their neighbour although we got it for Tiger. See what I mean?

Anyway the vid is really simple. Still, I watched it for only about 500 times. The song is really catchy and cute so I like it. Short, sweet.

What's up pussycat?

Merrrrow!

♥

p.s. wow very impressed with the spammer who still managed to load some spam up my tagboard despite me already activating the Human Authenticator. Reward given for impressive behaviour - I'll keep the ad up there for a bit and then delete when I feel bored from seeing it.

I'm a Rapper

I meant Wrapper with a capital W.


Spent my Monday sorting and wrapping Christmas presents while finishing up the K-drama series Oh! My Lady. The ending... wasn't as fantabulous as I'd expected it to be but it was alright I guess.. At the very least there was Choi Si Won from Super Junior starring as the male lead. 
(These days I'm really INTO K-pop.. so there.)


-*=*=*=*=*-
At this moment let us close our eyes for 4minute until 2AM to pray for Peace in Korea and the World. For those already asleep let's just catch up later at about 2PM. Special exemption applies to audience below 2NE1 years of age but we will not Miss A single individual beyond that age group, you better follow the rules otherwise fear retribution.


May everyone make war, not love ahem, make love, not war.
-*=*=*=*=*-


Yeah so in anticipation of a sarky workload and absolutely-trying life routine the next couple of weeks, I've decided to begin preparing for some upcoming Christmas gift exchange meet-ups. 2 weeks ago I had even planned to hand make Christmas cards for colleagues, friends and loved ones, but regrettably 2 weeks later I found that I had unconsciously splurged my precious 2 weeks on K-drama, dance practice, running practice, a boring holiday and meeting people for F-O-O-D! 
So no cards this year.


Nevertheless, I spent much effort on the aesthetics of the Christmas gifts. To the lucky people who will be receiving these presents and also read my brog entries, Please Open Them With Care and Please Take Time To Savour My Sincerity in wrapping the gifts.


I really really enjoy giving gifts and receiving nice gifts.. Really really must bear in mind to give me really really nice gifts. Sharing is a bridge between your heart and mine.. And her heart and his heart and mine and her heart and her heart and his heart and mine.. 


Hope these little pichas make you a wee bit excited!

Family portrait!

 And of course.. the colourful wrapper for little Vitamin-C, gingerly topped with a Gingerbread Man sticker holding candy cane.

 And then we have one for a Dec baby

Close-up on the details

I'm still lacking some suitable gifts for several sweet persons. But I'll take my time to prepare those because wrapping the above gifts has very nearly rendered me blind. My eyes! My eyes!


Ohmigosh its way past bedtime. How oh how would I be able to adjust my bodyclock to boring work hours.... That is beyond me.
♥